Elevators, Escalators & Vertical Transport Equipment worked example

Elevator Drive Energy Cost with drive connected load of 45 kW: a worked example

This scenario runs the elevator drive energy cost calculation on the strong side: drive connected load of 45 kW, with every other input held at its documented default. a building engineer or estimator needs a quick drive energy cost per elevator, escalator, or service period

The inputs for this scenario

  • Drive connected load: 45 kW (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 18)
  • Drive runtime: 220 hr (unchanged)
  • Blended energy rate: 0.16 $ / kWh (unchanged)
  • Trips, starts, or units represented: 8,500 units (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Total drive energy cost = drive connected load × drive runtime × blended energy rate) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 1,584 $ for total drive energy cost, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 9,900 kWh for drive energy used.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 0.19 $ / unit for drive energy cost per represented unit.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 7.2 $ / hr for drive energy cost per runtime hour.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where drive connected load sits at 18 kW and the headline result is 634 $, this scenario comes in 150% above the baseline at 1,584 $.
  • Use it to benchmark an elevator drive's running energy, model a regenerative-drive payback, or allocate energy cost across measured trips. Treat this as a target state: the delta against the baseline quantifies what the improvement is worth before you commit to chasing it.

Results at a glance

  • Total drive energy cost: 1,584 $ (headline result)
  • Drive energy used: 9,900 kWh
  • Drive energy cost per represented unit: 0.19 $ / unit
  • Drive energy cost per runtime hour: 7.2 $ / hr

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Elevator Drive Energy Cost calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.